Your Mac's built-in security measures are designed to protect you from malware. But if you recently encountered the dreaded "macOS can't verify that this app is free of malware" error on your Mac, don't worry, because it's a sign that your Mac is doing its job pretty well. This message indicates that your Mac is trying to prevent you from using an app that isn't from the Mac App Store because it might harm your system. While this security warning is designed to protect your Mac from potentially malicious software, it can be a little frustrating when you're actually trying to install a legitimate app. So let's learn how to fix "macOS can't verify that this app is free of malware" on your Mac.
'macOS cannot verify that the app is free of malware' Error | QuickFix
The error "macOS can't verify that this app is not malware" or "can't open because Apple can't check it for malware" usually appears when you try to open a program that hasn't been certified or properly signed by the developer. macOS includes a security feature called Gatekeeper, which scans and analyzes the authenticity of the apps you try to install. It checks if apps are signed by developers to ensure they are safe to run on Apple devices. Here are some common reasons for this error:
The first and foremost thing you should do is check if the app you are trying to run on your Mac is from a verified source. In simple words, you should only download an app from its official website or App Store. Refrain from installing apps from an untrusted website. Following this rule would not result in the "can't open because Apple can't check it for malware" error.
macOS Gatekeeper acts as a digital security guard for your Mac, ensuring that only trusted and verified applications can be installed. Although it's something to be careful about changing the gatekeeper settings on your Mac, it's one of the easiest solutions for the "macOS can't verify that this app is free of malware" error. Here's how to adjust Gatekeeper settings on your Mac:
